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Big Ticket - 19 days

Bolshoi (Russian for BIG). Go large on our sensational big ticket from Moscow all the way to Beijing. It's the journey that offers a stunning smorgasbord of all our en route destinations including Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk (for Lake Baikal), Ulan Ude and Ulaan Baatar!

Not Included

This journey is semi-independent and is unescorted. It is not a group departure and you will not have a tour guide.

Itinerary

This holiday can also be arranged on a private basis. If you have a specific departure date in mind, please contact us and we'll tailor this holiday to suit your needs.

Days 1-2

Moscow

Welcome to Russia’s vibrant capital city. Arrival transfer from Moscow Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo airport to your hotel. The remains of days 1 and 2 are free for you to explore the sights of Moscow. On day 2 there is the option to travel to the legendary Red Square by Metro for a guided walking tour where you will see brightly coloured St Basil’s Cathedral, the impressive GUM department store and Lenin’s Mausoleum. If open you can pay your respects to Lenin himself! Rest of the day is free - consider a visit to the mighty Kremlin. Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast x 1

Day 3

Moscow

Moscow - Yekaterinburg. Explore the city independently today. This afternoon transfer to rail station to board the train to Yekaterinburg.
Overnight: Train | Breakfast

Days 4-5

Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg. On the evening of day 4 the train pulls into Yekaterinburg. Transfer to your hotel. On day 5 there is an optional city tour, which takes in the new monastery that marks the site of the Romanov family’s execution in 1918 and Ganina Yama - a beautiful monastic complex built on the site where their bodies were discarded and later found. The guided tour also takes you to the Europe/Asia border where you can stand with a foot in each continent!
Overnight: Yekaterinburg | Breakfast x 1

Day 6

Optional Activities

Yekaterinburg. Today you can choose from the optional activities on offer or spend the day at leisure. This evening relax at the hotel before your transfer to the station to board the train to Irkutsk.Overnight: Train | Breakfast

Days 7-8

On board the Train

Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk. Relax on board and enjoy the views as you travel through Siberia en route to Irkutsk. Overnight: Train

Days 9-11

Irkutsk & optional Lake Baikal

Irkutsk. Morning arrival into Irkutsk, a town with the Asiatic influences of nearby Mongolia and China and curious architecture - a legacy of Siberia's exiled aristocrats. Spend the next three days at leisure exploring the town. Or choose one of the following optional excursions:

Listvyanka and Lake Baikal:
Spend two relaxing days in the village of Listvyanka by beautiful Lake Baikal and perhaps choose one of the optional activities.

Train to Ulan Ude

Irkutsk - Ulan Ude - breakfast. Spend day 12 at leisure in Irkutsk before your evening departure for the overnight train to Ulan Ude. Very early the following morning arrive into Ulan Ude and transfer to your hotel.
Day 13 is free for you to independently explore the city or take an optional Ulan Ude city tour. Thanks to its proximity to Mongolia and China, the indigenous people of the region, the Buryats, clung on to their Tibetan-Buddhist faith through the Communist era. The guided city tour visits Ivolginsky Datsan - a centre of Buddhist culture and the open air Ethnographic Museum dedicated to the lives of local people and architecture through the ages.

On day 14, the morning is free before your midday transfer to rail station for the train to Ulaan Baatar. Overnight: Train - days 12 & 14, Ulan Ude - day 13 | Breakfast x 1

Days 15-17

Mongolia

Ulaan Baatar. Morning arrival (subject to border formalities and inevitable delays) into Outer Mongolia after crossing the border in the very early hours of day 15, transfer to your hotel in Ulaan Baatar. Mongolia is a country of unspoilt natural beauty, with endless steppe, nomadic tribes people, stunning Terelj National Park, double-humped (Bactrian) camels and wild Przewalski horses. Due to its high elevation, located 1350 metres above sea level Ulaan Baatar is the coldest national capital in the world, so make sure you wrap up warm!
Enjoy free time exploring the National History Museum, Bogd Khan’s winter palace, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet and Sukhbataar Square. Spend the following 3 days at leisure or book an optional two night excursion to Terelj National Park:

Optional Terelj National Park & ger camp: Upon arrival on day 15 transfer to nearby Terelj National Park, stopping for lunch and a visit to Turtle Rock en route. With scenic alpine surrounds this protected area is host to diverse flora and fauna and famous for its unique granite rock formations. Spend two nights camping out in a Mongolian ger on the steppe. On day 17 transfer back to Ulaan Baatar stopping to visit a nomadic family en route. Overnight: Ulaan Baatar | Breakfast x 2

Days 18-19

Train to Beijing

Ulaan Baatar - Beijing. Early morning transfer to rail station for your onward train journey through endless steppe and the Gobi Desert before crossing the border into China in the evening on day 17. Day 18 is the final leg of your Big Ticket, passing through Shaanxi province en route to the capital. Afternoon arrival into Beijng signals the end of your epic Trans-Siberian journey.Breakfast x 1

Bolt-on a 3 day Beijing Stopover

To see the sights of Beijing including the legendary Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City with its 9999 rooms, book our 3 day Beijing Stopover. Includes an arrival transfer from Beijing rail station, 2 nights 3 star hotel, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and guided sightseeing with an English speaking local guide.

Prices & Dates

Prices shown are per person travelling based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling sharing a twin room/2nd-class 4-berth train cabin. The 'single supplement' applies to travellers requiring a single hotel room at stops along the way, train accommodation remains 2nd class 4 berth. Please add this supplement to the 'Twin/Double' price.

Extra Prices

Price /Person

SingleSupp.

Moscow Accommodation

USD $129

USD $80

Beijing Accommodation

USD $60

USD $60

Big Ticket - Homestay discoun

USD $-180

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Reviews

“

Sally and I would like to thank you Ryan for arranging and coordinating this holiday. Once again On the Go has excelled. We cannot recommend you all highly enough and we both hope our enthusiasm for holidaying with you is reflected with increasing bookings.

Once again

Thanks Ryan
”

James and Sally Patterson &bullet; Submitted 10 Jul 2011

“

Yekaterinburg has a lot to offer to tourists. During our stay we were taken to khaski dog sledding a fantastic day, we really enjoyed ourselves. The following day we had an interesting tour of the city and were taken to the Europe/Asia border. In all a very enjoyable stay made even special by our host Nonna. Our guide Natalia was very helpful and informative, many thanks.”

Gavin and Kim &bullet; Submitted 07 Jan 2011

“

Janet,

I should have written to you 10 days ago to let you know how fantastic our Trans-Sib, Trans-Mong trip was. We enjoyed every minute from Moscow to Beijing! The arrangements were flawless, and our hosts were outstanding. We had long, interesting, and endearing conversations with every one of them. And Evdochia Lebeda in Irkutsk makes to-die-for bliny and chicken cutlet! We learned a lot in every venue and along the way from our compartment mates (and Bryn Thomas's Trans-Siberian Handbook. We found this really dull at home and absolutely fascinating once we were enroute). Our guides and our hosts pulled out all the stops for us and gave us a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Thanks to all of you who pulled this off!!
”

Sally and I would like to thank you Ryan for arranging and coordinating this holiday. Once again On the Go has excelled. We cannot recommend you all highly enough and we both hope our enthusiasm for holidaying with you is reflected with increasing bookings.

Life can be unpredictable and we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to change or delay your travel plans. With our LIFETIME DEPOSIT guarantee, you can book our Signature tours safe in the knowledge that if you’re unable to travel, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time.

Prices shown are per person travelling based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling sharing a twin room/2nd-class 4-berth train cabin. The 'single supplement' applies to travellers requiring a single hotel room at stops along the way, train accommodation remains 2nd class 4 berth. Please add this supplement to the 'Twin/Double' price.

Need a different departure date?

If you cannot find a suitable departure date from the list below, please contact us and we'll happily arrange this holiday or similar, on a private basis. Prices will be comparable to those noted below.

Independent

Tailored To Suit You

On this range you won’t be joining other travellers, but will be on your own private itinerary. Accommodation, pace of travel and the style of trip is tailored to your individual needs. From pre-priced packages available off the shelf to fully curated tailor-made holidays, this range also includes our selection of one-night stopovers, day-tours and short breaks.

The Independent range gives you all the great service aspects of our Signature range with the flexibility to create a truly unique and bespoke holiday or adventure to a variety of destinations around the world.

Guaranteed Departures

This tour is 100% guaranteed to depart with travellers.

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Trans-Siberian Journeys from Moscow

Travel from one red city to another by hopping on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Moscow and expressing it to Beijing, or opt for a longer journey with stops en route. Discover the sights of Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and mighty Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude and Ulaan Baatar with one of our many optional activities, or explore each port of call your own way. Alternatively, take the original Trans-Siberian Railway journey from Moscow through to Vladivostok on our epic 19 day adventure.